Ahsan manzil, Old Dhaka, Bangladesh

Ahsan Manzil is located on the banks of Buriganga river in Islampur of old Dhaka. It was formerly the palace of the Nawabs of Dhaka. Currently it is being used as a museum. Its founder is Nawab Abdul Ghani. He named it after his son Khwaja Ahsanullah. Its construction period was 1859-1872. A meeting held here in 1906 decided to establish the Muslim League. Ahsan Manzil has been renovated several times. The last renovation was done very recently. Now it is a museum. In the mid-eighteenth century, Sheikh Inayetullah Ahsan, a zamindar of Jalalpur pargana, built a palace called Rangmahal at the present site of Manzil. Later his son sold the palace to a French merchant. It was long known as a trading cottage. Then in 1835, Khwaja Alimullah, father of Nawab Abdul Gani, who lived in Begombazar, bought it and started living there.Nawab Abdul Ghani rebuilt the palace in 1872. After constructing the new building, he named it Ahsan Manzil after his beloved son Khwaja Ahsanullah. On June 12, 1897, when an earthquake hit Dhaka, Ahsan Manzil suffered extensive damage.The Nahwat Khana along Islampur Road along with the south balcony of Ahsan Manzil was completely destroyed. Later Nawab Ahsanullah rebuilt it. This palace has a beautiful dome on the roof. At one time the top of this dome was the highest in Dhaka city. The tri-arched entrance outside the main building is also beautiful. Similarly, the stairs going up attract everyone's attention.

There are two graceful arches at the east and west ends which are most beautiful. Ahsan Manzil has two parts inside. The meeting room and library are in the eastern part. The western part has the ballroom and other living rooms. The ground floor has the courtroom and dining room. The number of artefacts collected so far in Ahsan Manzil Museum is 4 thousand 77. Out of 31 rooms of this Rangmahal, 23 exhibitions have been arranged. In addition, 9 rooms are decorated according to the photographs taken by the photographer Fritzcup in 1904. Summer schedule: (April-September)-(Saturday-Wednesday) 10.30 am - 5.30 pm. Friday – 3.00 pm – 7.30 pm. Winter Schedule: (October - March) - (Saturday - Wednesday) 9.30 am - 4.30 pm. Friday - 2.30pm - 7.30pm. Museum will be closed on Thursdays - weekends and other public holidays.